Is any UFC title fight complete without former double champion Conor McGregor talking trash about the victor?
Following UFC veteran Charles Oliveira’s brutal victory over Michael Chandler, the Irishman lashed out on Twitter, hinting that he wants to reclaim the 155lb strap.
A calm, collected Oliveira sees no threat from the former champion, claiming that he’ll “put you on your ass” in a potential future bout.
“Congrats to Olivera on becoming the 11th UFC lightweight champion.
Wonder who Twelve is…”
In the Irishman’s typically braggadocious style, this ignites speculation as to who will be the first to challenge Oliveira for the belt.
A calm, collected Oliveira sees no threat from the former champion, claiming that he’ll “put you on your ass” in a potential future bout.
Conor McGregor famously claimed the lightweight title at UFC 205 with a TKO victory over Eddie Alvarez in the second round. At the time, McGregor was the UFC’s first fighter to reign as champion in two divisions simultaneously.
Although he held the title for 511 days, McGregor’s failure to defend the belt led to the election of an interim champion and, eventually, the fearsome reign of Khabib Nurmagomedov, who defeated McGregor in a title defence with a brutal rear naked choke.
Oliveira, for his part, has fought in the UFC for over a decade. The Brazilian survived an onslaught in round one, staying in the fight despite eating a series of devastating punches to the head.
Chandler’s striking looked powerful, but it only took the new champion twenty seconds to knock him out cold in the second round.
Oliveira’s reputation as an elite grappler is well-earned, but he displayed strong boxing instincts and clinical, predatory striking ability to stun Chandler with a left hook and ultimately claim the belt that has eluded him for his entire UFC career. He openly wept on camera, but only after leaping over the octagon to celebrate with Joe Rogan and UFC President Dana White.
“I battled hard to get here,” Oliveira said. “Everybody’s talking about who it’s going to be next, Poirier or Conor. I’ll leave that to my manager, and I’m going to go home and rest.”
When asked about McGregor, Oliveira seemed interested but unfazed. Via translator, he told Conor in no uncertain terms to “worry about Dustin, then we’ll talk about it”.
McGregor will fight Dustin Poirier for the third time in July, the winner of which may well present the first challenge to Oliveira’s title. Should the Irishman claim the trilogy, Oliveira wants to fight in his native Brazil:
“Conor, since you’re so tough, first of all, you beat Dustin, and then come over to Brazil and I’ll put you on your ass.”
Who do you think wins in a fight between Conor McGregor and Charles Oliveira? Can the Irishman reclaim the title, or is his time over?
